Might & Magic Heroes VII - Trial by Fire | Game Brain

Might & Magic Heroes VII - Trial by Fire Game Cover

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Might & Magic Heroes VII - Trial by Fire is a stand-alone expansion, offering a new epic story through two campaigns featuring the new fortress faction: Dwarves. This turn-based strategy and RPG game includes improved mechanics, new maps, and additional content that enriches the Might & Magic universe. Ideal for both newcomers and existing fans.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 523 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

stability30 negative mentions

The game captures the essence of the Heroes series, providing a nostalgic experience for long-time fans.
The new Fortress faction adds unique gameplay mechanics and interesting units, enhancing the overall experience.
The graphics and sound design are generally well-received, contributing to an immersive atmosphere.

The game is plagued with numerous bugs and technical issues, particularly in multiplayer mode, making it frustrating to play.
Ubisoft's reliance on the Uplay launcher has led to authentication problems and connectivity issues, hindering access to the game.
The campaign and AI are criticized for being lackluster, with many players finding the story and character development disappointing.

gameplay
57 mentions
33 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the new town mechanics, unique units, and improved skill systems, while others criticize it for being slow-paced, repetitive, and plagued by bugs, particularly in multiplayer. Many users noted that the game offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of earlier titles, but also pointed out significant balance issues and a lack of innovative mechanics. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements and improvements, the presence of numerous gameplay bugs and inconsistencies detracts from the overall experience.
- “The biggest upsides: that one-more-turn gameplay is there, the factions/creatures are pretty nice as is the skill wheel.”
- “The gameplay is very similar but with some improvements (nice graphics, finally a good skill tree, assassination mechanic, and some more).”
- “Total trash, if you played Heroes of Might and Magic 6 don't play this or you will ruin your experience in gameplay!”
- “You will run into disappearing units, thrown together balance fixes that break faction mechanics (undead's raise), and a humongous amount of gameplay bugs.”
- “The gameplay is diverse, it keeps me coming back for more, the hotseat mode is fast and entertaining, and I love the campaign so far.”
graphics
46 mentions
46 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and beautiful artwork, while others criticize them as outdated or mediocre compared to previous titles in the series. Many users report issues such as crashes and bugs that detract from the overall experience, despite acknowledging that the graphics can be enjoyable with the right system specifications. Overall, while there are highlights in the visual design, the inconsistency in quality and performance leaves players divided.
- “A very easy game to play casually at your own pace... stunning visual graphics makes this game well worth playing, so far (in my opinion) the best version of the Heroes series.”
- “I find the graphics gorgeous indeed, with very little exception.”
- “It is smooth, the graphics are pretty and the terrain on the map is pretty cool, much more detailed than any other Heroes game I've played.”
- “After 7 hours of playing, this game caused a system crash. My NVIDIA driver had to be reinstalled. My graphics card is an RTX 2080 Ti, and now the game keeps crashing periodically. What a terrible game...”
- “The graphics are about 10 years out of date.”
- “Absolute trash game. The worst Heroes I have ever seen. The graphics look like trash and the maps are horrible. This Heroes should take notes from Heroes 5 because the buildings look like my 3-year-old cousin designed them, and the cities are in 2D, looking like a drawing I created when I was 4. Honestly, the game looks like they ran out of money and got really lazy in most aspects. I highly do not recommend this game to anyone, even if it was free. Don't waste your space.”
story
42 mentions
26 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it largely forgettable and poorly executed, particularly criticizing the dungeon campaign and character development. While some appreciate the improvements in the new campaigns and the filling of story gaps, others feel the narrative is disjointed and plagued by bugs that hinder gameplay. Overall, the storyline is seen as basic and unengaging, with the multiplayer experience often overshadowing the single-player narrative.
- “In the DLC, many story holes got filled and some cool twists.”
- “A really nice improvement compared to the base game, the new faction is fun and the campaign storyline is way better than the original game.”
- “Lost Tales One and Lost Tales Two are written by the original HOMM IV story writer who was hired for this project.”
- “The campaign has a terrible storyline and can be very annoying to play.”
- “Story arcs are pretty basic and it's difficult to really get invested in most of the characters.”
- “The story of the game is really boring.”
stability
35 mentions
11 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and freezes affecting both single-player and multiplayer modes. While some players noted improvements after patches, many still experience significant issues, including unstable saves and unresponsive gameplay. Overall, the game is considered to be in a persistently buggy state, with little ongoing support from the developers.
- “It has its flaws, but over the years the game has been fixed; no crashes, no glitches. It could be a better game, but it's pretty solid.”
- “Nice game, not buggy at all.”
- “Well, at least this isn't buggy as hell like most newly released games, so... improvement?”
- “Endless bugs, crashes, freezes, etc.”
- “The developers announced that no more updates will be released, so the game is left in an extremely buggy state.”
- “It's so buggy, it's kind of impressive that they dared to release it.”
music
19 mentions
26 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful town and adventure map themes, particularly from the DLC, while others criticize the heavy reuse of assets and the overall blandness compared to earlier titles like Heroes of Might and Magic IV. While certain tracks, such as Sylvan's theme, stand out positively, many players express a desire for more original compositions rather than remixes of previous games. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as decent but lacking the memorable quality that fans expect from the series.
- “The music, sounds, gameplay are absolutely fantastic!”
- “The game itself is beautiful with a fantastic soundtrack with good coloring; I myself run it in 4k with no problems.”
- “The music is great, the maps look great, the town screens are cool, the new creature lineups and resource types are a refreshing change, and the game overall is an achievement.”
- “Many reused assets (music, unit models, skill icons).”
- “Recycling a lot of music from Clash of Heroes, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, and now from HOMM 6. While I enjoy a lot of those themes, I would really like to see more new compositions.”
- “Music is bland (and I'm not even comparing it to HOMM 4, which in my opinion has some of the best music in any game); it doesn't feel like a Heroes soundtrack.”
optimization
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for significant performance issues, including frequent bugs that can lead to crashes and desynchronization among players. While some users note that advancements in computer hardware have made the game more playable over time, it still suffers from technical shortcomings compared to other titles, such as The Witcher 3, which runs smoothly on the same systems. Overall, the game is deemed technically unoptimized despite its enjoyable aspects.
- “Great game made better with the passage of time because today's computers can handle its performance issues.”
- “The game is at least playable for the most part; sound bugs, animation hiccups, and performance issues aside, I like the game.”
- “Of course, the bugs are still noticeable, and the game is technically not well optimized.”
- “Bugs all over the place which will either crash the game, your computer (because of bad optimization), or just get out of sync with the rest of the players, forcing a reload.”
- “It must be poorly optimized, since I am playing The Witcher 3 at the highest settings without any problems on the same laptop.”
- “The game is at least playable for the most part; sound bugs, animation hiccups, and poor performance aside, I like the game.”
replayability
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Overall, the replayability of the game is highly regarded, with many players appreciating the diverse strategies and paths to victory available. While some feel that it offers fun for multiple playthroughs and skirmishes, others suggest that older titles may provide better long-term replay value. The game's AI and tactical depth contribute positively to its replayability.
- “Great AI and tactics, and replayability.”
- “Excellent game, very much replayable - many different paths to victory and easy for anyone to find a play style that they enjoy most.”
- “Fun for several playthroughs and skirmishes, but for long-term replayability, I would still choose some older titles over this one.”
- “If you don't play the campaign like me, you don't need the vanilla version of HOMM7 because this is a standalone expansion; all factions are playable.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its stunning landscapes and a strong resemblance to the beloved feel of Heroes of Might and Magic III, with well-designed maps and impressive creature designs. However, some users noted that the animation clarity could be improved, although adjustments in video options can mitigate atmospheric blurring. Overall, the game successfully captures a nostalgic and immersive atmosphere that resonates with long-time fans.
- “In Heroes VII, they totally captured the atmosphere, and the creatures are finally amazing.”
- “The landscape is stunning, and the atmosphere, along with the way the maps are built, is very close to Heroes of Might and Magic III, in my opinion.”
- “A very complete product with a very nice atmosphere. I'm happy to see that after so many years, a great team managed to bring the original Heroes of Might and Magic III look and feel to a modern engine, allowing us to enjoy the game again.”
emotional
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with players finding the characters and missions forgettable and the storytelling, particularly in the dungeon campaign, to be lacking and uninspiring. This has led to feelings of wasted time for some players, detracting from the overall emotional engagement with the game.
- “Mostly forgettable characters and missions, with boring storytelling. The dungeon's campaign is one of the worst stories I've ever seen in M&M.”
- “The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journeys.”
- “I found the narrative to be uninspired and emotionally flat, failing to evoke any real feelings or investment in the story.”
monetization
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is generally viewed positively, with users noting that it avoids aggressive cash grab tactics, extreme DLC policies, and excessive microtransactions, making it accessible for casual players.
- “The game maintains its quality without resorting to extreme DLC policies or excessive microtransactions.”
- “I appreciate that the game isn't downgraded and remains casual, making it accessible without aggressive monetization tactics.”
- “The monetization approach is fair, ensuring that players can enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “Don't fall for this cash grab (unless I am missing something).”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as genuinely funny, with players enjoying comedic elements such as quirky character movements that evoke laughter. However, some users noted that technical issues, like desyncing during battles, can detract from the overall experience.
- “My first encounter with the Lil' Hom version of HOMM 7 made me laugh so hard when I saw them walk towards my troops instead of the original flight movement. It walks like someone tied at both legs and still trying to walk.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express satisfaction with the character development in the game, highlighting it as a strong aspect alongside the castle development.
- “I was very happy with the character development in this game, especially how it intertwined with the castle development.”
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
- “I loved how the characters evolved throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding experience in the game hindered by the slow loading times associated with Ubisoft's Uplay game launcher, which can take around five minutes to start the game.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I spent hours grinding for resources, only to realize it was all for a minor upgrade.”
- “The grind is so monotonous that it feels more like a chore than a fun gaming experience.”